PIA Press ReleaseFriday, January 13, 2012

AFP urged to put detachments in Balbalan

by Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Jan. 13(PIA) -- Political leaders and heads of agencies meeting as a development council recently approved the establishment of military detachments in rebel-infested barangays and the relocation of existing ones to places in need of security.

The body agreed to put in place first security measures before any development could be introduced in the said areas to avoid disruption on their implementation and protect government resources including business ventures of investors.

Vice Governor Allen Jesse Mangaoang moved during the meeting that two military detachments shall be established at Poswoy and Dao-angan in Balbalan to maintain peace and order and deter atrocities by the New Peoples Army (NPA).

The concern was also raised during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting in December 2011 asking the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deploy stationary troops in these two barangays.

Col. Paul Atal, Deputy Commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade immediately asked the transmittal of the request to their command for action. “We will act on the matter including the request to relocate the Ileb detachment to areas needing security,” he said.

“Even if the internal security was turned over to local government units, still we are here to augment if our services are needed particularly the safety of project personnel, equipments and security of projects being disturbed by lawless elements,” Atal said.

Meanwhile, Capt. Aurelio Kigis of the 501st Brigade announced the AFP is recruiting candidates for military training this year. He said they will maintain an application booth during the Kalinga Day in February to accept applicants. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR,Kalinga)